Cleaning Stainless Steel Wine Barrels

As a commercial wine maker, we know you want your vintages to be smooth and flavorful when they go into that bottle. The equipment handling your wine plays a big part in achieving the end product. But you have to start with a clean canvas so your work of art can shine.

Step 1: Inspect.

When you first receive your stainless steel barrel, inspect it for cracks and scratches. You want the inside to be smooth. If it is not, call your manufacturer and trade out. Remains of wine can embed in those grooves and could have an effect on the taste of the next wine you put in there. For this reason, it’s also important you don’t use harsh abrasives or steel wool to clean your barrel.

Step 2: Clean.

Before your first use of the stainless steel barrel you should rinse your equipment and you can use a non-hazardous, buffered alkaline cleaner to remove any residual oils or dust from the manufacturing process. Just be sure to rinse well with warm water followed by tepid or cold water.

Step 3: Expose.

After using your barrel there are really just two steps to cleaning it. Repeat your cleaning procedure from above. As you are doing that make sure the surface is exposed to be sanitized. In other words rinse or scrub off any dirt or dried grape skin during this cleaning process. This way the inside of your barrel can be sanitized properly. If the sanitizer can’t come in contact with the steel because it’s blocked by grape leftovers, it won’t work.

Step 4: Sanitize.

Now the barrel is ready to sanitize! Do this by pouring in your sanitizer and swirling it to cover the entire area of the barrel. Wait for the recommended time. Then rinse. When sanitizing be sure not to exceed the sanitizer manufacturers’ recommended concentration for stainless steel equipment.

You should also sanitize immediately before product enters the barrel. Do not close the barrel for empty storage with wet sanitizing solution on the stainless steel surface, make sure it is dry first.

With proper care, your stainless steel wine barrels and stainless steel wine tanks will last a lifetime. And your wines will be poised for perfection!